Vijai Pandian column: Are kiwis, figs hardy in Wisconsin?

8:19 PM,
Feb. 22, 2013

Despite what some catalogs may claim, only certain varieties of kiwis are hardy this far north.

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Vijai Pandian

Gardeners tend to have an inherent curiosity in experimenting with unique plants in their backyard, including unsual fruits.Kiwis

One of the specialty fruit plants that has gained popularity are kiwifruits. Known for their delicious taste, true kiwis that are sold in supermarkets pose a hardiness challenge to be grown as a backyard fruit crop in the Upper Midwest region. Interestingly it's being advertised in many catalogs as new hardy kiwi that can survive at -25°F and can grow almost anywhere. How truthful are these claims? Reading the fine prints of the catalogs can reveal some ...